VET & TAFE
campusreview.com.au
Failing the disadvantaged
New report calls for more support
for disadvantaged young people
trying to access and complete VET.
Katie Acheson interviewed by Loren Smith
N
SW VET isn’t doing right by
Aboriginal students and those
experiencing disabilities, mental
health issues and homelessness.
This is the conclusion of Youth Action,
Uniting and Mission Australia after they
surveyed disadvantaged young people
and 50 individuals from organisations that
assist them.
Their recent joint report, Vocational
Education and Training in NSW: Report
into Access and Outcomes for Young
People Experiencing Disadvantage, says the
vocational sector is charging these students
too much upfront and insufficiently
supports them. Additionally, it has unclear
entry criteria and course information.
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Since VET is – by a 98 per cent margin
– the pathway to employment for these
students, those polled said the students
need enhanced financial, literacy,
numeracy and career guidance support to
follow this pathway to its end.
Mission Australia metro state leader
Dr Evelyne Tadros explained one of the
ill effects of joblessness: “The ‘scarring’
that occurs when someone is out of
work for a lengthy period can have
negative impacts on the person’s health
and wellbeing while also reducing the
likelihood of future employment.”
But the report authors also posited
solutions to these issues. For instance,
Bob Mulcahy, Uniting’s director of resilient
families, offered that “greater availability
of free or low-cost literacy and numeracy
courses in accessible community
locations such as youth centres” could
help disadvantaged young people gain
VET qualifications.
Tadros added that investment in
specifically disadvantaged areas, as well as
greater VET access options for early school
leavers, could benefit these students.
Importantly, not all VET students have
negative experiences. Breeanna, 24, from
Turramurra, unexpectedly fell pregnant
while undertaking a Certificate II in
Community Services. She said her VET
provider allowed her to defer the work
placement component of the course until
she was ready for it. Now, she’s three weeks
away from completing a Certificate IV in the
same field. Like other single mothers in her
cohort, she attends classes one day a week
instead of three so she can spend more
time with her one-year-old.
“The teachers constantly check in with us
and suggest optional day or time changes,”
she said. Her experiences have been so
positive she’s recommended the courses
to others.
Nevertheless, why is VET so crucial,
especially for disadvantaged youths?
In an interview with Campus Review,
Youth Action’s chief executive Katie
Acheson explained that it’s often their
“second chance”.
She said Australia will likely need 490,000
more qualified employees in the next three
years, including in service industries. This
requirement is particularly pertinent in
regional and rural areas.
Campus Review spoke with Acheson to
explore these issues further.
CR : What specific issues do disadvantaged
young people face in relation to VET?
KA: What we found is that there are
extensive upfront fees, complex eligibility
criteria and confusing course information
– including when and how the information
was presented. It wasn’t targeted at the
right level. All those things are inadequate
to support students who have disabilities,
mental health issues and homelessness,
and also young Aboriginal people.